The Billionaire's Bundle of Joy

Chapter 37

RIZ

JUSTIN promised me fidelity, and that’s what I’m going to hold on to. Not someone like Veronica, who is unfaithful, will ruin the good relationship we’re building. No matter how hot the weather is here at the resort, it’s not enough for me to engage in Veronica’s taunts.

“Wives don’t just disappear when they speak to their husband’s demented exes, Veronica. So you just keep wishing wherever you are. Have a great day.” Disappear forever… screw her!

When I ended the call, I approached the counter and took out Justin’s black card. “Hello! We are here for a day tour, but we have a slight change of plans.” Reysa and Matet approached me, curious about what I was doing.

“Good morning, ma’am. Would you like a suite?” the receptionist asked.

“No. I’d like to get a villa for me and my friends for a night.” I handed her the card, and she didn’t ask further when she saw Justin’s last name.

“Sure, ma’am. Let me do the paperwork, and I’ll have the villa ready for you. Please have a seat while you wait. Can I offer you something to eat?” Elaine was written on her name tag, and she seemed nice. She had a genuine smile, and even though it was early, she didn’t look irritable.

“We’re okay for now. We’ll order food later when we’re in the villa.”

“Alright. Thank you, ma’am,” she replied with a smile.

The lobby is grand. The decorations around are clearly expensive, but what’s nice is that our own culture is still visible. That’s how it should be. It’s important to support our own because many Filipinos are talented; they just don’t get the chance to showcase their skills. Like this Belbulb Cluster chandelier. If I’m not mistaken, it’s made of crystal and costs no less than a hundred thousand pesos. It’s handcrafted, and even though the design is simple, the craftsmanship is beautiful.

Before long, we were taken to the villa using a golf cart. The staff helped with our bags too. I hate to admit it, but Justin is right. It does feel nice to have someone do things for you, even if it’s just once in a while.

When we started feeling hungry, I asked them what they wanted to eat. They didn’t want to ruin their appetite for lunch, so I ordered some fruits and shakes. And since I was craving buko pie, I ordered that too.

“Did you talk to Justin earlier, that’s why you booked this villa?” Matet asked me after taking a sip of water.

I shook my head. “He didn’t answer the phone earlier; it was his ex, Veronica.”

“Is she the woman who almost fell on the floor at the club? She’s tall and looks sophisticated,” Reysa recounted.

“You remember her?”

“If she’s the one who approached your husband back then, I’m right. She chased away those other girls who seemed interested in Justin. It’s hard to have a handsome husband. Wow! You have so many rivals.”

“Then just answer Asyong. He’s been hinting at you for a long time, you know!” Matet teased Reysa, laughing.

“Why don’t you just answer Asyong? You’re the annoying one!” She threw a pillow at Matet, but she dodged it.

Asyong was that guy who used to hang around outside the university, always greeting Reysa with, “Hi, love.” When she smiled, you could see his yellow teeth, with some black spots, a sign of his long-time smoking. He’s the type who could bathe three times a day and still look dirty, with sticky hair and skin. In short, he’s not boyfriend material.

“Don’t be like that; he loves you! If he didn’t, why would he greet you with, ‘Hi, love!’” Matet, the instigator, was in the mood to tease again.

“Please! Even if he were the only man in the world, I’d rather be an old maid. He might be the reason for my early death.” Reysa rolled her eyes.

“I know what your ailment will be.” From Matet’s grin, I knew she was thinking of something silly again.

“What?”

“Jaundice! You’ll catch it from his yellow teeth.” She was laughing so hard that I couldn’t help but laugh too. She’s always been like this, even before. Even though they both come from wealthy families, they’re so down to earth that we easily got along.

The throw pillows on the couch were all gone because Reysa was throwing them at Matet. Even after getting hit in the face, Matet didn’t get mad. Somehow, my heart felt lighter. I was entertained by the two of them, but I still couldn’t shake Justin off my mind, especially since he was with Veronica. I know he promised me, but he’s still a man.

When the food arrived, we happily ate and chatted about our funny moments in university, our plans for job hunting, and our families.

“Did I mention that I saw your mom at the mall?” Reysa asked me while slicing watermelon.

I shook my head. “Not yet. When?”

“Hmm. Maybe a few days before I called you. It slipped my mind. She was all dressed up and had a lot of paper bags with her. She was really big time.”

I showed them a picture of my mom. I wasn’t in that family picture. It was taken in a studio that Cha gave me. I felt sad at first because I didn’t belong with them. I don’t have a family picture with my parents either. As for Dad, he only has Madam with him. When I give birth, the first thing I’ll do is take a picture of the three of us. Even just one, that would be enough.

“She was with a guy, by the way. He looked a bit younger than her, or maybe he just had a baby face,” Reysa added.

“Is it T’yong?” I asked her. They must be big time if they went shopping at the mall. That’s always the problem. They spend like there’s no tomorrow and don’t think about whether they’ll have jobs to return to. And when there’s none, they’re left with nothing. The problem is, I’m the one who has to find a solution.

Reysa shook her head. “No. They were lips-to-lips.”